First Magic Book

Sinajar

Hi Paul, so what was the first magic book you bought? And did you like it? Thanks for coming here by the way.

Paul Daniels

I didn't used to buy books until I was much older... I used to ask the local library to get them for me. I now have hundreds of them and I can't remember which was first. Remember that if you get ONE trick from a book you should be happy and also remember that if you read the same book in five years you will pick a different trick!

Advice

CyberNettr

Mr. Daniels, an honor and a pleasure to have you here. You've obviously worked your way up the magical ladder, so I guess the obvious question is, how did you get there! Also, what advice would you give the mere novice for getting gigs and, having done that, getting better gigs?

Just thought I'd ask someone at the top!

Paul Daniels

Simple questions but ENORMOUS answers are required. I would recommend that you forget about magic and read books on marketing. You are a product! How would you sell ANY product? You have to let people know you exist in whatever marketplace you want to capture.

I hate doing plugs, but if you want to know how BIG an answer you want in full, it took Andrew a year to gather the information and then three months for me to pull that together into a really professional attitude to being a top earner when we created the How to Make Money by Magic DVD and/or books.

Good Luck... although in truth luck has precious little to do with it.

John Doe: Paul says he hates doing plugs. Seen as I invited him here I think it’s only polite I do a few for him.

This is Paul’s course on how to make money from magic. The basic package is just £107. You know how you often see gambling and how to pull girls courses on the internet. It always says in the advert that the seller “has personally used these techniques to great success”.

Well, in Paul’s case you know it’s true.

Paul Daniels Magic Shop

CyberNettr: Sounds great! I'm checking it out!

Vanilla

Graham Nichols

One of the strong points of your TV shows was the diversity of the performers. We got to enjoy different styles from many countries.

Now that the internet, and improved distribution channels, have made commercial effects available to the planet, do you feel that today's magic has become the magnolia of it's former artistic palette?

Also, now that magicians don't have to wait for crumbs of information from the table of the masters, as they once did; has magic become careless in an 'easy come, easy go' way?

Paul Daniels

Before Prof Hoffman published his tome to the lay public, magic was always VERY difficult to find out about and those that got 'through' were creators as much as performers.

Now it is much easier to find out about all aspects of magic BUT, only those who are interested seem to be logging on and having fun with it. There are still performing creators. There are still backroom boys.

When I look at all the golfers in the world I ponder upon why there are so few 'big boys' and I guess you can say the same about this game. In the world of magic the biggest mistake is thinking that the method of the trick is the secret. The secret is ALWAYS the presentation. Now, as then, you STILL have to seek it out.

"Not a Lot!"

Magicman007: First I would just like to say that I saw you live at the Key Theatre, Peterborough in I think 1990 when I was just 5 years old and to date that is the only live magic show I've seen, but I can still remember it like it was last week.

Anyway, two quick questions:

Anyone who has seen you perform will know that one of your catchphrases is "not a lot!" and I was just wondering where/how you came up with that.

Also, the Paul Daniels Magic Show was regular Saturday night viewing in my house, do you have any favourite moments from the shows that, given the opportunity, you would go through again?

Thank you, you're an inspiration to us all.

Paul Daniels: ... and I will be back in Peterborough playing the King in The Sleeping Beauty this Christmas. Thank you for remembering the show!

Catchphrases are not written, they just happen. I had a heckler in Bradford who, in a broad Yorkshire accent shouted 'I don't like tha suit' and I bounced back with 'That's a shame 'cos I like yours, not a lot, but I like it.' The audience laughed and the line stuck. I believe it went into the Oxford Dictionary of Colloquialisms.

As for the second question... I don't think so... I think I'd probably do it all again...'cos now it's planned!!!!

Magicman007: Is that to say you're making another show?

Paul Daniels: Sorry…badly explained...I meant that if I was to do them again...I would have the previous knowledge and therefore, they would be planned!